Been checking out Yotatech for a while and decided to create an account and post my truck. Purchased in California where apparently it was found in an estate sale sitting in the garage. At the time of purchase I got it with 50,045 original miles on the odometer. I paid a lot for it but this is the truck I have been searching for a long time and the first I have ever seen in this condition. The interior is perfect everything is original except the damn stereo was changed out.

 

Since time of purchase I added factory A/C to the truck through Racho Toyota salvage yard. They are great guys was able to pickup a complete A/C system for $450.00 shipped.

Here are some action shots adding in the A/C system. A/C system blows nice and cold. No issues running the new R134 freon in the old R12 system. All connectors and plugs were already on the truck as many have said on these forums A/C was added at the dealership as an option. All trucks were shipped ready from the factory without A/C but able to easily add it in. Took about 6 hours of my weekend to add it in completely as I did not remove the system to know where everything went. Was not hard to figure out though.

 

Still had the original 30 year old Toyota suspension on it. I don't want to turn this truck into a crawler or anything but I wanted something with a little bit more capability.

After extensive research (I read a lot of review threads and articles) I settled on an Old Man Emu full suspension. I ordered from Cruiser Outfitters the complete package and everything was shipped without issues. I would order from them again if needed. Here are some before and after shots. Second photo is before and third shot is after. Sort of hard to tell look at the rear fender well. It was a noticeable difference in person and I am overall happy with it.

 

These tires were not cutting it and drove on them as long as I could bear it. Again I researched the hell out of it and finally decided on the BFG Mud Terrain KM2s. I am damn glad I didn't listen to the "not daily driver tires" "too loud on highway" people. I don't have any issue with them daily driven on the highway. Extremely happy with them and the overall look. 33" tall by 10.5" wide on 15" rims.

Taking this truck on the trails is becoming an addiction.

Next on my to do list is buying a complete front and rear third member with 4.88 gears to fix my speedo and Odom. I figure I might as well add Detroit TruTrack to front and rear while I'm at it.

I've done a lot of research and for the mild off-roading I am doing in this truck limited slip should be fine. I never plan on rock crawling and the consensus seems that as long as I can keep both tires planted TruTrack is great.

 

Planned additions to truck:

This year:

Regearing the front and rear diffs (4.88) with added TruTrack LSD. (I may go with a Detroit locker in the rear years from now when the truck has 400k miles and I want a little something more out of it.)
Aisin Hubs
Window tint (20% front 5% or 10% on xtracab and rear)
Extended SS brake lines
Differential breather extensions F&R

Sometime next year:

Keep front bumper but have it fabricated to hold a winch
Warn M8000
Possibly some additional offroad lighting (Still debating)
Get an original 1985 radio back in. Someone added a pioneer cd player.

I still find things I want to add from time to time but I want this build to be mild. I'm also open to suggestions.

 

Welcome to yotatech.That's an awesome find, nice work on the lift and tires, that's one beautiful truck!

 

Whoops, double post...oh, well...

Look forward to seeing some more pics of your truck!

 

Nice score! Very nice truck.

 

nice work. truck is in great shape and i love the direction your going. I really would like to build a mild wheeler like that, one that drives great on the road and is easy to get into haha. also 10.50 wide tires are my favorite for these trucks.

 

So clean!!! Now you need some aisin hubs to bring it back to original!

 

if it was my truck i would want to keep it in the garage and buy another one to use...

 

Yeah Aisin hubs are on my list. Looking forward to having them on the truck again. I prefer the way they look and know they are far stronger than the aftermarket ones. I also need a radio out of an 85 truck so I can get rid of this pioneer cd player someone thought was a good idea to add.

Yeah I thought about this for a long time after getting the truck. Seeing the odometer roll over another thousand miles is painful but in the end these trucks last forever. The odometer is just a number there is no reason I can't keep this truck nice like it currently is. I waited several years looking for the exact truck I wanted and I'm not going to have it sit now in my garage.

 

That's a really clean find. About how much did the ome lift cost you and what amount of lift did it add. Center of the hub to bottom of the fender measurement would be awesome. What exact ome lift did you get? I am asking because I plan on doing the exact same thing to my clean 85 4runner I recently got. I am ping to put 4:88's and a Detroit soft locker in the rear and a turetrack up front. You literally just built what I want to do to my runner but with a pickup an a true track vs a Detroit soft locker in the rear. Please any more info would be greatly appreciated.

 

Dam thats a clean truck. Glad to see its in good hands!

 

I have a set of asin hubs that I will be selling in May when I tear the yota axles out from my 85. They are my spare set and in great shape.

Great looking 85!

 

Measurement on front hub to fender is exactly 2 foot (24") and the rear being right at 23". Prior to installing my new tires I did before and after measurements and this equaled 3" of lift in the front and 3.25" in rear. I am not sure if this has settled down to lower numbers or not.

Here is where I purchased my suspension:
http://www.cruiseroutfitters.com/sus...ner_dakar.html
I went with the Ultimate Light Kit. The price at first seems steep shopping around but then you find out that other sites dont actually sell you all the required supporting hardware such as greasable shackles, new bushings, etc. I highly recommend cruiser outfitters. My total $1,606.66 after shipping and all. Great customer service I wish I could remember the name of who I spoke with but he helped me out a lot and seemed to actually know what the hell he was talking about. When you call to order he'll bring up a build sheet on your truck and help you through the process.

If you have any questions just shoot. It might be a few months before I can install new third members but I'll write it up and snap some pictures when I do. I still can't decide on trutrack or a detroit locker/softlocker in the rear I keep going back and forth.

 

Thank you very much for the information. That was exactly what I was looking for. 3". Is perfect might settle down to 2-2 1/2" perfect for 33's.

How does it flex? And do you notice a lot more body roll now?
Thanks again. I am totally stocked to see someone do the exact build I want. Makes me want to build it sooner.

 

I can't really comment on the flex as I have not been on any demanding trails yet. Once it dries up hopefully in a week or two I might be able to come back with some pictures and an answer.

I don't notice any body roll but I did purchase aftermarket extended end links to keep the sway bar attached. Had I left it unattached I hear it is noticeable. This will limit front flex though but I don't plan on any serious crawling in this truck. If you are concerned about flex I think there are quick disconnect end links. You can reach under and pull out pins on the trail then reconnect the pin before heading home.

 

Any updates on how the rig is working out? How has the suspension broken in? I'm still super envious of your ride. Just need to sell off a few more items then I can order my OME kit.

 

Daaaaaang. That's like new. It's so clean. My truck has like six times that mileage.